NY Islanders head coach Patrick Roy reveals why he hasn't spoken to Anthony Duclair

Patrick Roy didn’t duck the question. He knew it was coming and gave an honest answer.

At his first media availability ahead of training camp, the New York Islanders' head coach, back for his second full season, was asked about his fractured relationship with Anthony Duclair, stemming from their fallout late last season when the hockey Hall of Famer called his performance 'god awful' and questioned his work ethic.

Roy confirmed that he hasn’t spoken to Duclair since the incident but plans to address it directly and in person before camp opens. He told the media it's nothing he wanted to discuss over the phone.

Duclair, who was acquired last summer, struggled to find his rhythm under Roy’s system after coming back from a groin injury suffered in October at UBS Arena. The tension reportedly boiled over after an April loss, leading to Duclair taking a leave of absence from the team for the remainder of the season.

Duclair scored only four goals and 11 assists in 44 games last season. Former GM Lou Lamoriello signed the former All-Star to a four-year contract over the summer, which at the time was lauded as one of the better deals in free agency. With both sides set to turn the page, the message from the organization has been that there's still a place for Duclair to contribute—if the reset goes well.

General Manager Mathieu Darche has spoken to Duclair, and the expectation is that he will report to camp in September. At that time, presumably, is when he and Roy will get to clear the air and move forward with their relationship, which goes back many years to when Roy coached Duclair in juniors.

Roy also revealed several key coaching responsibilities and lineup expectations for this season.

Mathew Barzal, who spent much of the last two seasons playing wing, will return to his natural center position this year. Meanwhile, new signing Jonathan Drouin will start on Bo Horvat’s wing, giving the Islanders’ top-six a fresh offensive look.

Behind the bench, Roy announced his assistant coaching assignments. Ray Bennett, who previously worked with Drouin in Colorado, will oversee the power play. Bob Boughner will lead the penalty kill. Benoit Desrosiers will handle 5-on-5 structure and faceoffs, something the Islanders excelled in last season despite their struggles on special teams and overall.